Bundle tying machine feeder and the control mechanism



July 27, 1954 J EBERLE 2,684,626

ROL HA ISM s 1; Sheet 1 J. J. EBERLE July 27, 1954 BUNDLE TYINGMACHINE FEEDER AND THE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Dec. 28, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JULIAN J. EBERLE A 'r raaews V5 J. J. EBERLE Jul 27, 1954 BUNDLE TYING MACHINE FEEDER AND THE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Dec. 28, 1948 5 ,Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JUUAN J. EBLRLE July 27, 1954 EBERLE 2,684,626

BUNDLE TYING MACHINE FEEDER AND THE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Dec. 28, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 k a0 0 5; s; 0

m E e a S Ln 8 Q o 6 I J 9, m N (D o 8d 0 a 9- '9 .4 r J 1 36* 1 1., I 1 E 5 3 o ZAL I N V EN TOR. JUU AN d. EBERLE July 27, 1954 Filed Dec. 28, 1948 FORWRRD OFF REVERSE MANUAL Qgfig J. J. EB ERLE BUNDLE TYING MACHINE FEEDER AND THE CONTROL MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Patented July 27, 1954 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE BUNDLE TYING MACHINE FEEDER AND THE CONTROL MECHANISM Application December 28, 1948, Serial No. 67,716

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a bundle tying machine feeder and the control mechanism.

Broadly, it is the object of the invention to provide an accessory device for the automatic delivery of bundles to a tying machine or the like, the said device including means for correlating the action of the tying machine or the like with the functioning of such device to the end that all operations may be effected automatically and mechanically. The bundle tying machine or the like may be of any conventional construction and reference thereto is intended to include, from the standpoint of the broad invention here involved, machines other than bundle tying machines specifically. No modification of any structure of any such machine is intended or required for the purposes of the present invention. More specifically, one of the objects of the invention is to provide a conveyor system which includes a number of units, some of which act impositively upon the work to permit work to accumulate thereon, awaiting its turn for delivery to the tying or other machine. At the same time, the conveyor system includes other elements with sufficiently positive action to assure the correct positioning of the bundles or other work respecting the machine which is to act thereon, and also preferably adapted to push from such machine Work which has previously been acted upon thereby. In eifectuating these objectives, I propose to use conveyor elements which include some that are continuously operable and others that are intermittently operable, together with means for coordinating their various operations with each other and with the operation of the bundle tying or other machine.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide a feeder and control mechanism which is readily adaptable for the delivery of successive bundles or other workpieces in single stage movement through the machine which is to act thereon or, alternatively, to move such bundles or other workpieces through the said machine in a succession of stages. This phase of the invention has particular utility in connection with bundle tying machines where it may be desired, in some instances, to make a single tie centrally of the bundle and, in other instances, to make two or more ties at spaced intervals about each bundle. In the latter case, it is a specific object of the invention to provide means for adjusting the thrust of the bundle propelling mechanism upon the bundle, according to the stage at which it is being propelled into or through the machine, it being found that a bundle which has already had one tie requires much less thrust for its subsequent movement than a bundle as yet untied. The present device is adapted automatically to vary the thrust according to the condition of the work in this regard.

Still other objects of the invention will be more apparent in the light of the following disclosure thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general view in perspective of the association of a feeder and a tying machine in a combination exemplifying the invention, the tying machine being diagrammatically illustrated.

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section through the feeder and contiguous portions of the tying machine.

Fig. 3 is a view taken in horizontal section in the plane indicated at 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view taken in horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view taken in transverse section on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view on an enlarged scale showing partially in section and partially in side elevation one of the cam mechanisms illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective showing a single tied bundle on a reduced scale.

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective showing on a reduced scale a bundle having the first of two ties.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the bundle completed with two ties.

Fig. 10 is a simplified wiring diagram for the controls of the feeder.

Fig. 11 is a table of switch positions for the control of the various operations of the feeder.

It is the general object of the invention to deliver the bundles I from the conveyor 2 to the tying machine as rapidly as the bundles are supplied and the tying machine is able to operate thereon, any excess number of bundles deposited at irregular intervals upon the conveyor being stored thereon, and the tying machine and the intervening feeder generically designated by reference character 4 being mechanically synchronized as to operation.

In order that the conveyor 2 may operate both as a supply conveyor and as a means of storing excess bundles, I employ a conveyor at this point which includes a frame 5 having sprocket means 7 for the laterally disposed chains 8, 9 (Fig. 3). These chains are cross connected by the rods ll] upon which are journaled rollers H on which rest the bundles or other workpieces to be propelled or stored. Means not shown is provided, as usual, for driving one of the sprocket means about which the conveyor chains 3, 3 are guided. If there is no resistance to forward movement of the bundles, these will move with the upper run of the conveyor upon which they sup ported. However, if the movement of preceding bundles is arrested, each given bundle, upon reaching the obstruction, will likewise come to rest and the rollers ii of the conveyor will rotate therebeneath without propulsion efiect upon the arrested bundles. As soon as the obstruction is removed, the bundles will resume their forward movement with the conveyor.

The input conveyor generically designated by reference character 2 delivers the bundles or other workpieces on to conveyor worl; table i2, this table constituting a portion of the feeder whereby the bundles are transferred from the conveyor to the tying machine as rapidly as they can be handled by suchmachine. Feed rolls 53 are journaled in the table i2 and provided with shafts at E5 equipped with sprockets l5 driven by chain it from the-motor ll. Idler sprockets it between each pair of sprockets l5'hold the chain it to the sprockets i5 to assure the positive' operation thereof-5 At the'end of the feed table i2 toward which the bundles are delivered during operation of roller l3, there is a stop plate l9 which, upon being engaged by a bundle, opens the normally closed switchfiil in the circuit 'of motor I l to arrest'the operation thereof.

When a bundle comes to rest by reason of its engagement with the stop plate i9, it is directlyin'the path of the ram 25, WhlCh'lS shown in retracted position in full lines in Fig; 2 and in advanced position in Fig. 3 and dotted lines in Fig.2.

The ram, generically designated by reference character '25 comprises a head 26 carried by a skeletonized frame or carriage which may conveniently include two laterally spaced upper arms 21, 23 and correspondingly spaced iower arms 29,-

30, all of-whichproject rearwardly'from-theram as shownin Figs. -2, land 5; Intermediate their ends, the lower arms-29 and 36 carry grooved wheels 3!, 32, respectively, which operate onthe lower rails 33, 3 3 or" a guideway provided'by the machine frame. wardly extending arms 29, 33 carry another'set of grooved Wheels 35,3 5which engage the upper rails 32, being held thereto by the weight of that portion of the ram and the said arms which extends'forwar'dly of the supporting wheels SI, 32.

The upper arms 21, 28 carry cam means for actuatingcontrols ina manner hereinafter to be described. 7 I

The ram is advanced and retracted in any desired manner, preferably pneumatically. A-

pneumatic cylinder 39 has its rear end-fixed in a cross member. ii of the frame. The plunger 59 which operates in the cylinder is connected at its forward end with the work propelling head 26- of the ram. As will hereinafter be explained, there are pneumatic connections to bothends of the cylinder so that the piston 42 connected with plunger ll: may be subjected to pressure in either direction to advance or retract the ram as desired.

When the ram advances from the full line position of Fig. 2 toward the dotted line position thereof, it'will push the workpiece or bundle half or one-third of the way across a tying slot Near their-rear ends, the rear- 38 respectively of the said guideway,-

it in the tying machine 3. This machine has a table 45 registering with the rollers 53 to receive the bundle from the rollers when the bundle is pushed across the ends of the rollers by the advancing ram. As explained above, in connection with the statement of the objects of this invention, it may be desired to provide the bundle with a single tie, in which case I am able to control the ram in such a manner that it stops short of the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 to leave the bundle disposed symmetrically centered with respect to the slot 3:3 in which the tie is manipulated to tie the bundle. Alternatively, the rain may be caused to arrest the motion of the bundle in a first position in which the original tie ill is applied to the bundle, whereupon the ram advances further to the dotted line position of Fig. 2 where the bundle is positioned to receive its second tie ll (Fig. 9).

' ch tying operation of the tying machine is ated conventionally by a pedal d8 (Figs. 2, 5). Each time pedal is depressed, c tying machine wil the one tie about the workpiece or die therein. It unnecessary to g mac but it is desiredto controlling it reference to the operation of the feeder so that the feeder will supply bundles as pidly as the tying can act thereon, up to the capacity of the tying machine and the inieed conveyor respectively. To this end, the frame of the feeder t carries at its forward end a plate 39 which mounts a solenoid the armature plunger 5! of which is connected by link 52 with a lever 53 having a free end portion provided with a foot at engaging treadie till.

I shall now describe the fluid connections for powering the rain, after which I s1 all describe the electrical controls for the pneumatic power and electrical power.

There is an air supply line 55 and an air exhaust line which lead to and from the casing of the four-way valve One port '58 of such valve communicates, subject to another solenoid operated check valve 59, with a pipe '33 leading through the exhaust valve 6i and pipe 62 to the closed end of cylinder 39.

Another port 552 of the four-way valve 5? communicates through pipe 5 subject to the control of solenoid valve 85 and a regulating check. valve 56,-with pipe til which leads to cylinder 39 near the end through which the plunger til operates. The solenoid valve 65 is bypassed by a line 58 in which there is a regulating valve at E9 and a solenoid valve at it, these being adapted to control the return flow to exhaust, and thereby to regulate the speed of advance of the plunger :3 which propels the ram 25.

Similarly, in the'line w ich goes to the closed end-oi the ram cylinder 32, there is a bypass H from exhaust valve 5! to the exhaust pipe 56 under the control of the needle valve l2.

The four-way valve 5's is operated in one direction by a spring 13 and in the other direction. by a solenoid it. The normally closed valve 5% is opened when its solenoid i5 energized. The normally closed valve iii: is operated when its solenoid i6 is energized, and normally closed valve ii] is operated when its solenoid l? is energized.

The valves 5%, and i2 are merely adjustable throttle valves, the throttle valve being set t a smaller aperture than the hrottle valve 56 so that when these throttle valves are connected in series by the opening of solenoid valve ii! and the s conventional operaclosing of solenoid valve 65, the return flow from the cylinder will be slower, and the movement of the plunger more retarded, than when valve 65 is open.

The valves used at ti and 69 may be conventional. Valve ti may be like the valve of Vorech Patent 2,040,580 and valve 69 may be like the valve in Schrenir Patent 2,417,217.

The arms 27, it, is and 3B which project rearvvardly from the ram head not only guide the ram but constitute a carriage. Supported on the upper arms 2'! .and 28 is a cam plate 19 (Figs. 2 and 4) which, in the advance of the rain moves beneath the fixed plate 6d upon which are mounted switches 85, 82, 83, 8 and 85, each comprising a cam follower lever (Fig. 2 and Fig. 6) operable by the cams 88, 81, 88, 39 and 96 on plate 19. There is also a limit switch 9! having its arm 92 positioned, to be engaged by operating lug 53 carried on arm 29 of the ram. There is a master switch 939 and a selector switch $4 (Figs. 3 and 4). The manner in which these several switches are desirably connected for the control of the operating mechanism is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 10 and in the table of Fig. 11, wherein the effect of the various positions of the selector switch is indicated.

Referring to Fig. 10, it will be noted that the motor I? is supplied with current by a threephase circuit from which power is taken oil through the main supply line Ill and to which the power is returned through the main return line I I8. The actual functioning of the motor I I is controlled by relay switch H9.

In addition to the selector 9%, which has four sets of contacts at A, B, C and D, there is another selector at 29 which has six sets of contacts marked E, F, G, H, I and J. This selector has for its sole function the determination whether the bundle is to be fastened with a single tie or a double tie operation.

The selector as has five positions, permitting the operator to set the device for automatic op. eration, wherein the tying machine is automatically operated synchronously with bundle feed, or

manual operation in which the bundle feed continues to operate but the tying machine does not, or for forward or reverse operation of the ram independently of any other functioning of the apparatus, this being desirable in order that the machine may be serviced. For example, odd sheets of paper may become separated from the bundles and lodged in the path of the ram, thus requiring separate ram manipulation to clear the machine. The table in Fig. 11 shows which of the several contacts of selector it are closed when the selector is set in one or another of its operative positions. Thus in the selector position which causes forward propulsion of the ram only,

the contacts B are the only ones which are closed.

For manual operation, contacts A and C are closed. For automatic operation, the contacts A, C and D are closed. In the off position of the selector switch, all contacts are open.

There is an emergency circuit breaker at I2I which, when operated, stops the entire machine. The other components of the electrical circuit can best be described in connection with a description of the specific operation. The selector switch ifiil which determines the number of ties is shown in the position which it occupies for a single tie operation, the contacts at E, G and I being closed and the other contacts open.

With the selector t t set for automatic operation, the leading bundle on the conveyor 2 advances therefrom on to the rollers I3 which are being operated by the motor l'I. When such bundle reaches the arm IQ of stop switch 2|], it displaces this double throw switch from the full line position to the dotted line position shown in the diagram of Fig. 10. This immediately opens the circuit of the motor controlling relay H9, permitting the motor I! to stop the operation of feed rolls it. This leaves the bundle at rest in the path of the ram 25.

In its new position, the switch 28 closes a circuit to relay I 22 which has two sets of contacts. The first contact at I23 controls a hOld-e ing circuit which maintains this relay closed so that its second contact at I24 may energize the actuating solenoid M of the four-way valve 51, the connection being made from the main supply line I I? through the contacts A of the selector switch 34 to solenoid I4 and thence through the return line H8.

The movement of the four-way valve to the position shown in Fig. 2 permits air to flow from the supply pipe 55 through the open solenoid valve 59 and through the double acting check valve 6I to the closed end of the cylinder, thus forcing the ram plunger is forwardly to advance the ram 25, thereby propelling the bundle from rollers l3 on to the table of the tying machine. In thus advancing, the piston 42 of the ram plunger displaces air from the other end of the ram cylinder and such air must return to exhaust through the pipe 67 and the regulating valve 66, the solenoid valve being open. Upon reaching the four-way valve, the air passes from port 63 to the discharge pipe 56 as shown in Fig. 2.

As soon as the carriage starts forward, the limit switch 9| opens. This switch continues to hold the motor I1 idle, even after the advancing bundle clears the bundle operated switch 29, which switch closes as soon as the bundle passes out of contact with the arm It. The holding circuit for relay I22 is required for the same reason.

As the carriage reaches the desired forward position in which the bundle is centered over the slot 44 of the tying machine, the cam on the top of the carriage operates switch 85 which is in the holding circuit for the relay I22, thus opening this relay. This deenergizes the solenoid M of four-way valve 57, whereby the spring of such valve returns the valve to its initial position and reverses the air connections. At the same time, the earn as on the carriage operates the switch 84 which energizes the relay I25, this in turn energizing the coil 5% of the solenoid which operates the foot 5 for depressing the treadle 48 to initiate movement of the tying apparatus.

When the four-way valve 5! reverses, air from the supply line 55 passes through port 63 and pipe 64 and the speed controlling check valves to the outer end of the cylinder, where it acts on the front of the piston to reverse and retract the ram. The exhaust air from the closed end of the cylinder flows through valve El, pipe l; and control valve '52 to the exhaust pipe 56. The needle valve controls the retractive movement of the plunger and As soon as the carriage reaches its retracted position, switch GE is again closed to energize the motor El and start the conveyor rolls it into operation to bring a new bundle into position before the ram.

Where a double tie is to be made, the secondary selector switch its is thrown to open the contacts at E, G and I and to close those at F, H

and J. As before, the bundle advances over rollers [3 until it strikes the arm l9 to close the switch 29 which arrests the rotation of rolls l3 and throws the four-way valve 57 to initiate the forward movement of the ram.

When the ram plunger reaches the proper position for the first of the two ties to be made as shown in Fig. 8, the bundle being advanced about a third of the way across the tying slot M, the switch 8! is shifted by the cam 86 from the full line position of Fig. 10 to the dotted line position in that view. The opening of the circuit normally closed by this switch breaks the circuits to the solenoids of valves 55, 5t and it, allowing all of these valves to close, thereby trapping the air on both sides of the piston in the ram cylinder. This immediately stops the advance of the ram. Switch 8| also energizes the time controlled relay l2l which, by reason of its time control mechanism, does not close for a period which, in the instant machine, is two and onehalf seconds, this being the time required for the tying machine to perform its cycle. The effect of the closing of this relay will be described later.

The movement of the carriage to the position in which the first tie is made also causes the cam 88 on the carriage to operate switch 8 5. This switch, now being in circuit by reason of the closing of the contacts J of the secondary selector switch 528, energizes the relay $23 which is also time controlled. In this instance, the time control holds the relay closed for a period which, in the instant device, is approximately one secnd. The closing of the switch 529 controlled by this relay, energizes relay I25 which, as already described, energizes the solenoid 50 which operates the tying machine. The period of second for which the solenoid remains energized is predetermined to be adequate for the pedal to initiate tying machine operation.

As above noted, the operation of the tying machine as thus initiated will continue for about two and one-half seconds to perfoin the first tie about the bundle. At the conclusion of that period, the relay l2? acts. When it acts, a switch is closed at I 3 l. The closing of the switch at 3! energizes the solenoids T and ll of valves 59 and i0 but the previous opening of the switch at [3B prevents the solenoid iii of valve 85 from being energized. In consequence of t ese valve controlling operations, air is again adznitted to the closed end of the cylinder to advance the ram and the further advance of the rain is controlled to a slower rate than that originally permitted, the air from in front of the ram piston being now forced to exhaust through the regultaing valve 69, valve to remaining shut. The reason for this is to avoid projecting the partially tied bundle past the proper position for the final tie.

Before a bundle is tied, its friction upon the table is much higher than the friction of the same bundle after one tie about the bundle has been made. Accordingly, if the same amount of energy were exerted on the bundle after tying as was required to propel it previous to the making of the first tie, the bundle would be thrown through the tying machine without stopping at the required point. The arrangement described malzes it possible to set the control valve 66 at a value such that it will determine the initial movement of the bundle before any tie has been made, while, after a tie has been made.

the control of valve 69 will become effective to reduce the rate of operation.

When the bundle reaches the desired position for the second tie, cam 89 in the carriage operates the switch 82, which opens to break the holding circuit to the relay I22 and thereby to deenergize the solenoid i l of the four-way valve 5?, which now moves from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position which permits the ram plunger to be retracted. In the return movement of the ram, cam 88 again acts on the follower of switch 83 which once more energizes relay to close contacts [29 for a period sufiicient to energize relay I and solenoid to de press the pedal control 48 for initiating the final tying cycle of the tying machine. As before, the movement of the ram carriage to its retracted position engages switch 9i, resulting in the further movement of the motor ll which drives the o nveyor rolls l3 and advances another bundle.

The operation of the pneumatic and electrical mechanisms and interlocks above described may be summarized as follows:

As bundles are advanced over the conveyor 2, the foremost bundle will be further advanced by the motor driven rolls l3 provided the space in front of the ram is clear. If the rolls it are already occupied by a bundle, the rolls will be at rest and bundles arriving on conveyor 2 will be stopped and the conveyor will pass idly beneath them.

As the foremost bundle advances over the power driven rolls 53, it will ultimately strike the limit arm ill which will stop the operation of these rolls, leaving the bundle in front of the rain. in deenergizing the motor which drives rolls i3, the switch 29 will also establish the proper connections for the pneumatic advance f the rain to propel the said bundle longitudinally of rolls l3 and across the table of the adjacent tying machine to a position to receive a tie. This position may be varied by the operator according to whether one tie or two ties are to be made about the bundle.

In either case, the bundle will come to rest at the proper point on the tying machine and through electrical interlocking means above described, a solenoid operated foot on the conveyor mechanism will actuate the pedal on the tying machine to make a tie about the bundle. Meantime, the ram has been retracted and, through the electrical interlock, the retraction of the ram results in the energization of the motor for advancing another bundle into position before the ram.

Ir a double tie is being made, the ram will not be retracted until after it has made a second. advance sufficient to reposition the bundle for the second tie, after which the operation is the same as above described. In that case, the movement of the ram is automatically controlled in its advance toward the position for the second tie to avoid overshooting the proper bundle poition.

The power of the ram is such that as each bundle i advanced, it pushes from the tying machine the bundle previously tied therein.

Thus, the bundles are advanced as rap .ly as the tying machine is able to handle them and the tying machine is automatically cause to operate as rapidly as the bundles can be positioned therein. The entire operation is automatic with no time lag beyond that required for the movements of the bundles, and no attention required of the operator.

li claim:

1. The combination with a machine for acting on a workpiece and a first control for initiating its cycle of operation, of feeding mechanism comprising a feed conveyor constituting power driven supporting means, a power source having driving connections to said supporting means and having a drive interrupting second control, a transfer ram having a guiding carriage, ways for said carriage disposed transversely of said feed conveyor and toward said machine, actuating means for said ram including a third control, a work operated stop means to actuate the second con trol, connections from said stop to said third control for initiating ram movement in a direction to advance a workpiece from said supporting means toward said machine, ram operated means for arresting ram movement in a predetermined position of alvance thereof in which said workpiece is delivered to said machine, and means for actuating the first control upon the arrival of the workpiece at said machine, said second control being normally in a position to permit resumed operation of said supporting means after said ram and workpiece have passed thereover.

2. A feeder for controlling the operation of a bundle tying device and delivering bundles thereto in synchronism with the operation of said device, said feeder comprising the combination with a conveyor having power operating means provided with a first control, a ram, a gnideway in which the ram is operable transversely of the conveyor and toward said device, said ram having actuating means provided. with a second control separately eifective to preclude conveyor movement, said feeder having a third control for initiating a predetermined cycle of tying operation, means for actuating the first control to arrest conveyor movement and comprising a yieldable stop disposed in the path of bundle movement upon the conveyor, said stop being engageahle by a bundle positioned in front of said ram, such stop normally being in a position for the initation of ram movement, ram operated means for arresting ram movement upon delivery of the bundle to the tying device, means for operating the third control to effect operation of said tying device upon such delivery, means operated by said ram for effecting ram retraction, and means effective upon the retraction of the ram for actuating the second control for resumption of conveyor movement in a direction to position another bundle in front of the ram.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said actuating means of the ram comprises a pneumatic cylinder and piston, the said cylinder having pneumatic connections and valves for the control thereof, said valves having electromagnetic means for their operation, together with a fourth control comprising an electric switch in series with such electromagnetic means and comprising an operating member for which said piston is provided with an actuator engageable with the switch operating member at an intermediate point in the stroke of the ram to close the valve controlling the pneumatic connections and thereby to arrest ram movement.

4. A device of the character described comprising the combination with a power operated feed conveyor, an electric motor in driving connection with such conveyor, and a switch in circuit with the motor for controlling conveyor operation, of a stop in the path of workpieces pro- Ill polled by said conveyor, said stop being connected with said switch for the opening thereof to arrest conveyor movement when the stop is engaged by a work piece, a ram operable transversely of said conveyor direction to engage a workpiece which has operated said stop for the lateral discharge of said workpiece from the conveyor, a plunger connected with the ram, a cylinder in which said plunger is operable, fluid connections to said cylinder provided with reversible electromagnetically operable valve means, an electrical circuit controlled by said stop for opening said valve means for the advance of said ram, and ram operated means for reversing said valve means for the return of said ram after a predetermined advance of said ram, said cylinder having fluid control connections provided with an adjustable throttle valve for regulating the rate of ram movement in one direction.

5. For use with a bundle tying machine having a predetermined cycle of operations and a control for initiating such cycle, a feeder for the synchronized feeding of bundles to said machine and for synchronized actuation of said control, said feeder comprising a work propelling ram, electrically controlled means for the advance and retraction thereof between a first retracted position, a second intermediate position, and a third advanced position, and switches controlling said means including first and second switches in the path of advance of the ram, switch operating members carried by the ram and respectively operable upon the first and second switches at said second and third positions of the ram for arresting ram movement, and a circuit including a control switch for selecting which of said first and second switches will be operative to arrest ram movement, whereby the ram may be caused to stop at selected points, said circuit including electromagnetic means for operating said control of said tying machine when said ram has advanced to one of said positions.

6. The device of claim 5 in which the second position of the ram is the position in which the said electromagnetic means operates the tying machine as aforesaid, in further combination with circuit means for causing the ram to dwell in the said second position and thereupon to resume its advance to its said third position, said ram and circuit including coacting members for operating the said control of said tying machine again in said third position.

7. The device of claim 6 in which the electrically controlled ram operating means comprises a cylinder, a plunger valve, controlled fluid connections to the opposite ends of the cylinder, a fluid supply line, valve means for connecting said lines alternatively to the opposite ends of the cylinder, and valve means in the respective lines including check valves for freely passing fluid to the cylinder for the operating stroke of said ram and for controlling restricted flow of fluid from the opposite end of the cylinder for regulating the rate of ram operation.

8. The device of claim '7 in which each of the lines from the cylinder includes a bypass, one of said lines having one flow restricting valve and a bypass therefor having another flow restricting valve, and a selecting valve for determining whether return flow from the cylinder will traverse the bypass.

9. In a device of the character described for the synchronized delivery of bundles to a tying machine and the synchronized initiation of a cycle and tying machine movement, the combination with a ram and a ram carriage, of ways upon which the carriage is reciprocable for the guidance of the ram for movement to and from the tying machine, a conveyor operable transversely of ram movement when delivering successive bundles into the path of the ram, cams connected with the carriage, switches mounted to be actuated by the several cams in the course of ram movement, and ram actuating means having lectrical controls, and circuit means selectively connecting said switches to said controls and determinative of which or" said controls will operate, one of said controls being adapted to arrest ram advance in one position and another of said controls being adapted to arrest ram advance in a different position.

10. The device of claim 9 in which said ram is provided with an operating plunger and a cylin- W der in which the plunger is reciprocable, the cylinder having a pneumatic system for admitting and withdrawing air to and from the respective ends thereof, and electromagnetically controlled valves for controlling flow of air to and from the respective ends of the cylinder.

11. The device of claim 10 in which said pneumatic system includes an air exhaust line having an adjustable throttling valve for regulating the flow of air therethrough and hence regulating ram movement in one direction, said line further including a bypass and valve means for determining selectively the flow of air as between the bypass and the throttling valve.

12. In a feeder for operation in synchronism with a tying machine and operable to deliver bundles to said machine to receive single and double ties according to the position of delivery, the combination with a rain having a plurality of switch operaitng cams, of operating connections for the ram provided with a plurality of switch controls, one of said switch controls being adapted to arrest rain movement in a first position for a single bundle tie, another of said switch controls being adapted to arrest ram movement in a second position for the first of two bundle ties, and a third of said switch controls being adapted to arrest ram movement in a third position for the second of two bundle ties, a circuit to the ram actuating connections including a selector switch for coupling particular switches selectively into said circuit, and means for initiating tying machine operation when the movement of the ram is arrested, irrespective of the position in which ram movement is arrested according to which of several control switches is in circuit.

13. The deviceof claim 12 in further combination with a bundle input conveyor for positioning successive work bundles before said ram, actuating connections for said conveyor, and means operatively connected in said circuit for automatically actuating said conveyor for the delivery of successive bundles before said ram upon each retraction thereof and for initiating ram advance after the successive bundles are positioned before the ram.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,324,239 Evans Dec. 9, 1919 1,843,599 First Feb. 2, 1932 2,057,131 Barton et al Oct. 13, 1936 2,334,736 Willcox Nov. 23, 1943 2,342,471 Jampol Feb. 22, 1944 2,372,763 Bunn Apr. 3, 1945 2,470,795 Socke May 24, 1949 2,523,025 Jeppson et a1. Sept. 19, 1950 

